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READY IN 37 mins

Restaurant-Style Potato Skins

Read Reviews (264)

"A wonderful appetizer for you and your family to enjoy." — Misty

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Types of Cooking Oil

All about Cream

Original recipe makes 6 servings Change Servings

6 potatoes
1 cup vegetable oil
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1/8 cup bacon bits
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

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Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains.
Heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C) in a deep fryer or a deep saucepan. Place the potatoes in hot oil, fry for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes on paper towels.
Fill the potato shells with cheese and bacon bits. Arrange them in the prepared baking pan.
Bake for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with sour cream.

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PREP 30 mins
COOK 7 mins
READY IN 37 mins

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These are good, but here's a really smart tip if you want to cut out about 1/2 the calories, much of the fat and still keep the great taste: DON'T FRY THEM. The only thing that the frying does is make the shells crispy and add a whole lot of fat (1 cup oil is too much fat). You can get the same crunchiness by scooping out the potato shells and baking them in the oven for 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Then add the bacon and cheese and broil another 5 minutes (watch so the cheese doesn't burn). Trust me, why add the fat?

—APGREEN

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Most Helpful Critical Review

Jan 25, 2004

I like these much better baked in the oven with melted butter poured on top, sprinkled with garlic salt, add chopped green onions, use ONLY real bacon and sharp cheddar, also sour cream as desired.

—Wilemon

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314 Ratings

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Jun 17, 2005

These were fabulous. DON'T FRY THEM!! I put the potatoes in the oven on 400 for about an hour. Then, scooped them out, sprayed the skins with pam, and stuck them back in the oven (425) for about 10-15 minutes. Sprinkled with baco's and cheese for the last 2 minutes. Crispy and delicious.

—TJGOULD

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Jan 29, 2004

In an attempt to cut the fat and carbs in this recipe I baked my potatoes in the oven for one hour at 425 degrees. The skins got very crispy, then all I had to do was cut in half and scoop out the pulp. We used a little butter flavored spray, non fat sour cream and chives. Yummy without all the fat. Chivo is another alternative we find pretty tasty.

—MAGGIE MCGUIRE

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Jul 26, 2006

Potato skins have always been a favorite of ours, but this was the first time I ever made them at home. This is a great recipe as written, but I played with it just a little and was CRAZY happy with the result. I baked the potatoes in the oven early in the day (425 degrees for an hour) and left them on a rack to cool completely. About an hour before frying, I scooped out the flesh and sealed the shells in a zip-lock so they wouldn't dry out. I deep-fried them, seasoned with salt and cracked pepper, filled with sharp cheddar, and baked as instructed for 7 minutes. After removing from the oven, I sprinkled with lots of finely chopped green onion and more cracked pepper. I arranged the skins on a platter with a bowl of sour cream, and drizzled with a tiny bit of white truffle oil. Oh, MY. This isn't something I'll make often, but when you're in the mood for wicked, cheesy, over-the-top indulgence, this is the way to go. Misty, thank you for your wonderful recipe. You made us very happy!

—trufflebun

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Aug 23, 2010

I, too, did not deep fry these but instead baked the potatoes first in the oven, let them cool, then scooped out the insides. I brushed the inside with a bit of olive oil and baked for about 10 minutes at 425. I then had added the cheese & bacon into the scooped out portion of potatoes and mixed well, filled the skins with the mixture and then topped with just a bit more shredded sharp cheddar. After baking for about 10 minutes I turned the oven to broil and broiled just until the cheese was perfect. Served with fat-free sour cream and diced green onions. Needed a bit of salt and pepper and they were FANTASTIC!!!

—Cindy in Pensacola

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Jan 25, 2004

These were awesome! I brought these to a wine tasting party and they were gone before I knew it. I didn't bake them in the microwave but did it the old fashioned way in the oven for about an hour. I wanted the skins to be crisp for easier removal of the potato. Using my "Fry Daddy" was the quickest and easiest way to fry the skins. They came out perfectly crisp and ready for the oven. Thanks Misty! I can't wait for another excuse to make these again.

—LINDA MCLEAN

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Dec 04, 2005

Delicious! I made a single batch of these and cut them into quarters instead of halves. They were all gone in 2 minutes flat. You need to be careful when cooking in the oil. Mine definitely did not take a full 5 minutes-more like 2-3 depending on how much potato was left on the skin. Will make again but double the recipe. Thanks...this is a winner.

—LYNN39SCAF

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Nutrition

Calories
519 kcal
26%

Carbohydrates
40.9 g
13%

Cholesterol
75 mg
25%

Fat
32.8 g
50%

Fiber
4.7 g
19%

Protein
17.1 g
34%

Sodium
361 mg
14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Restaurant-Style Potato Skins

Serving Size: 1/6 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 519
Calories from Fat: 295

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32.8g 50 %
Saturated Fat 18.5g 93 %
Cholesterol 75mg 25 %
Sodium 361mg 14 %
** Potassium 1043mg 29 %
Total Carbohydrates 40.9g 13 %
Dietary Fiber 4.7g 19 %
Protein 17.1g 34 %
** Sugars 2g
Vitamin A 17 %
Vitamin C 71 %
Calcium 48 %
Iron 20 %
** Thiamin 22 %
** Niacin 45 %
** Vitamin B6 42 %
** Magnesium 24 %
** Folate 27 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.